Letters to the editor for Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Some Catholics want to vote for Santorum, who says he is a Catholic. He is not the ordinary Catholic because he belongs to Opus Dei, a secret group whose members require secrecy.

Some Catholics want to vote for Santorum, who says he is a Catholic. He is not the ordinary Catholic because he belongs to Opus Dei, a secret group whose members require secrecy.

One of their purposes is to undo anything of Vatican II. They are also against liberation theology, which is working for greater justice for the poor. Andrew Greely, a priest, calls Opus Dei devious, anti-democratic, reactionary, semi-fascist and hungry for absolute power in the church, and it ought to be forced to come out in the open or be suppressed.

Santorum apparently agrees with them. Read "The Pope's War" for more info.

Louise M. Mancinelli

Rock Tavern

This letter is in response to the article on Catholics by Terry Mattingly (Scripps Howard News Service) in the March 18 edition of the Times Herald-Record.

Contrary to a recent letter writer's beliefs, the Catholic Church does not, I repeat, does not and cannot change the rules according to the will of the people. Catholics are guided and instructed by the words of God in his Holy Bible. For anyone to think otherwise is ludicrous.

Any institution to have survived the madness of this world for more than 2,000 years had to be instituted by God himself. He states what is right and what is wrong.

Mary Lanspery

New Paltz

Accolades for statesmanship to Montgomery Town Councilman Dan Dempsey, who stood alone to preserve Benedict Park, voting against his colleagues. That capacity to learn and change with knowledge takes insight, intelligence, heart.

Benedict Park is a unique environment. The yearly fiscal outlay to maintain a ballfield alone dictates it remain a nature preserve. What it offers to us and our descendants dictates that it remain a nature preserve.

We who played Little League baseball, who love America's original first and greatest game, who are encouraged to see youths playing it, can also see that emphasizing only competitive sport in human development is NOT healthy.

Guiding youths to marvel in nature, engaging in body- and spirit-enhancing activities, strolling by the rushing Wallkill River, observing wildlife, breathing unpolluted air, hearing birds sing, touching the earth in a serene atmosphere are certainly more vital to childhood development than playing a sport.

Studies show that the circumstances that produce mystical experience, windows to wider awareness, knowledge of the interconnectedness of all things, involve individual activities available at Benedict: observing nature, hiking, jogging, gardening, fishing. Transcendant experience is not so likely engaging in competitive sport.

All citizens of Orange County need Benedict Park. Go visit before it is altered for the worse.